The best Afternoon tea

Afternoon Tea

Te-Cycle

How afternoon tea found its way into English culture

Tea consumption increased dramatically during the early nineteenth century and it is around this time that Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford is said to have complained of "having that sinking feeling" during the late afternoon.

At the time it was usual for people to take only two main meals a day, breakfast, and dinner at around 8 o'clock in the evening. The solution for the Duchess was a pot of tea and a light snack, taken privately in her boudoir during the afternoon.

Later friends were invited to join her in her rooms at Woburn Abbey and this summer practice proved so popular that the Duchess continued it when she returned to London, sending cards to her friends asking them to join her for "tea and a walk in the fields." Other social hostesses quickly picked up on the idea and the practice became respectable enough to move it into the drawing room.

Before long all of fashionable society was sipping tea and nibbling sandwiches in the middle of the afternoon.

Are you over 85?

If so then we won't charge you to have CREAM TEA with us…. how lovely! The other person eating with you (no matter how old they are!) must pay full price.

If you prefer to have a FULL afternoon tea then all we ask is that you pay the difference so the total price will be £6.00

Traditional Afternoon tea

Afternoon tea at Broadoaks is served in the traditional way on a three tiered plate with the following:

Sandwiches

Homemade Cakes

Polite Note: Our chefs are a creative bunch and so the content and type of the sweets and the sandwiches that we make each day do change to suit the season. Don’t forget to ask for a take away box if you are too full to finish the items on the day.